Page 79 of The Laudanum Ladies' Society

‘I know that some of the girls end up working there when they are older. I’ve taken on a handful over the years to train in more expert skills, if they’ve shown real promise and intelligence and have been willing to better themselves. Some of them have gone on to be mistresses to wealthy patrons.’

She sounded proud, and Jenny’s stomach turned rancid with dislike. She snorted.

‘Don’t presume to judge me,’ Selina said sharply, whipping her head round to Jenny. ‘There are worse ways to earn a living than spending an hour with a gentleman. Not all of Augusta’s girls end up in my line of work. Some of them go into service in houses very much like yours, or to the factories. I often wonder if they regret that decision. Ask anyone gutting fish in Billingsgate in January, or picking potatoes in a field from dawn to dusk, whether she’d rather be lying on her back in the warm.’

Selina stood and paced to the window, then to the door, clenching and unclenching her hands. She turned to face the three women and there was indisputable distress on her face.

‘I knew Augusta wanted the tincture for the brothel, but I truly thought it was for the men. I never dreamed she would be drugging the girls. You have to believe me in that. I thought it would give the men a little extra vigour.’

Gwen motioned to Jenny and Miriam. They huddled together. Miriam held the sketchbook in her hands, unopened. With relief, Jenny suspected they would not need to resort to blackmail.

‘Do we believe her?’ Gwen asked.

‘I think so,’ Jenny said.

Miriam nodded. ‘I agree. I don’t like it, but there is a sort of honour in what Selina does. She sells herself. I can’t condemn her for that.’

‘I can hear you,’ Selina said drily.

The women turned to her, slightly guiltily. Selina stood with her arms folded, one hand supporting her chin on her well-manicured fingertips. She had recovered her composure, but her cheeks were highly coloured.

‘You are very certain in your moral superiority,’ she said mockingly. ‘Don’t forget for a moment that you have been making and selling a product that takes away people’s sense of discretion and inhibitions.’

‘But we did it for a good reason,’ Gwen said.

‘And we all know the aphorism regarding the road to Hell and good intentions, don’t we?’ Selina said, raising her brows and holding the women’s eyes until they looked down.

‘You are correct, however. There are limits to my depravity and, as you say, what I choose to do with my own body is one thing. I have used your tincture myself and offered it to my clients, sometimes both at the same time, but I would never force anyone to take it. Whatever you think of me, I want you to believe I have nothing to do with Augusta’s misuse of the tincture.’

‘So, you will help us put an end to her business?’ Jenny asked.

Selina pursed her lips. ‘I can’t do that. She knows too many of my secrets. What you have to understand is that my professionadmits me into a very select circle. Don’t misunderstand, I’m not rubbing shoulders with the highest aristocracy, but I have on my list a few notable members of boards, directors of banks, and one judge.’

‘And the owner of a pharmacy chain?’ Jenny asked darkly.

‘Once or twice,’ Selina admitted in a business-like manner.

Jenny winced, but whether that was the thought of Conrad taking pleasure with a prostitute or just the thought of him engaged in the act at all, Jenny wasn’t sure.

‘It would be embarrassing for them if your links to Augusta came to light, I’m sure,’ Gwen said. ‘Your clients are the ones at risk of scandal, not to mention the displeasure of their wives.’

Selina held out her arms in a ‘What can I do?’ gesture. ‘Exactly, and without my clients, how would I provide for myself? I guarantee the utmost discretion for a reason, and some of these men would certainly not want their involvement getting out.’

‘The rotund gentleman with rather small feet might not be happy for his likeness to be circulated, for example.’ Miriam waved her sketchbook and gave a grim smile. Selina’s face fell. It provided a brief moment of amusement in the heavy atmosphere.

‘I see.’ Selina flashed Miriam a nasty look. ‘So you have some sketches of men. What does that prove? That you saw them in the street? It means nothing.’

‘We can leave that for them to decide– or their wives or employers,’ Gwen said. ‘Or the newspapers.’

Selina’s chin jerked up. She walked to a glass-fronted cupboard containing decanters and glasses. She poured herself a glass of whisky, not offering it around, and drank it in one extremely unladylike move.

‘You’ve planned this well, but if Augusta heard I had moved against her it would not be good for me, and I don’t mean justfrom a business point of view, but for my personal safety. No, I’m sorry. I can’t become involved in this.’

Jenny took the book from Miriam’s hand. She opened the pages at one of the portraits and showed it to Selina, who frowned.

‘He has a wife of five years and a newborn daughter. Would you drag their names into public ridicule?’ she asked.

‘That’s something he should have thought about before doing whatever he does with you,’ Miriam said archly.